The Mightiest King and the Most Humble Servant

In preparation for teaching Sunday School this week, I came across this passage of scripture from 2 Samuel.

18 Then David the king went in and sat before the Lord, and he said, “Who am I, O Lord God, and what is my house, that You have brought me this far? 19 And yet this was insignificant in Your eyes, O Lord God, for You have spoken also of the house of Your servant concerning the distant future. And this is the custom of man, O Lord God. 20 Again what more can David say to You? For You know Your servant, O Lord God! 21 For the sake of Your word, and according to Your own heart, You have done all this greatness to let Your servant know. 22 For this reason You are great, O Lord God; forthere is none like You, and there is no God besides You, according to all that we have heard with our ears. 23 And what one nation on the earth is like Your people Israel, whom God went to redeem for Himself as a people and to make a name for Himself, and to do a great thing for You and awesome things for Your land, before Your people whom You have redeemed for Yourself from Egypt, from nations and their gods? 24 For You have established for Yourself Your people Israel as Your own people forever, and You, O Lord, have become their God. 25 Now therefore, O Lord God, the word that You have spoken concerning Your servant and his house, confirm it forever, and do as You have spoken,26 that Your name may be magnified forever, by saying, ‘The Lord of hosts is God over Israel’; and may the house of Your servant David be established before You. 27 For You, O Lord of hosts, the God of Israel, have made a revelation to Your servant, saying, ‘I will build you a house’; therefore Your servant has found courage to pray this prayer to You. 28 Now, O Lord God, You are God, and Your words are truth, and You have promised this good thing to Your servant. 29 Now therefore, may it please You to bless the house of Your servant, that it may continue forever before You. For You, O Lord God, have spoken; and with Your blessing may the house of Your servant be blessed forever.” (2 Samuel 7:18-29) NASB

I am always inspired and encouraged when I read one of David’s prayers. His honesty and sincerity touch my heart and make me want to be the man that God has called me to be.

What I find so remarkable about this passage is the how David refers to himself. “Your servant”, he says. And not just once; David refers to himself this way ten times during this prayer!

Mighty King David. Poet. Warrior. Leader. Song writer. Dancer. The greatest earthly king that the world has ever known. And yet when he comes before his God to pray, he is the humble servant.

Might I learn something from David’s attitude? Might we all?

I am reminded of another passage in the Bible that reinforces this idea.

8 Yea verily, and I count all things to be loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but refuse, that I may gain Christ (Philippians 3:8) NASB

Paul knew. Paul understood, just like David did so many years ago. No matter how great, wise or powerful we are on earth, we are all created beings who must acknowledge the majesty and sovereignty of the one true God. And to come before God and to seek Him is to realize that He alone is worthy and that there can be no higher calling on earth than that of servant of the Most High God.

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“And out of that hopeless attempt has come nearly all that we call human history—money, poverty, ambition, war, prostitution, classes, empires, slavery—the long terrible story of man trying to find something other than God which will make him happy.” C.S. Lewis